Sony is offering the device in purple, black and white, but has just said that the phone is "coming soon".

However, UK mobile network Three claims that it will start selling the Xperia Z from February 28.

Three intends to offer the handset for £69 on a £34-a-month Ultimate Internet 500 plan. It will also be available for the same upfront cost on £36-a-month tariffs on Three's The One Plan.

The mobile network said that it will retail the Xperia Z on pay-as-you-go for £449.99 plus an either £15 or £25 top-up.

It has today started pre-orders and said that the first 1,000 customers who lodge an order for the Xperia Z on a 24-month contract at a Three store will get a pair of Sony MDR-1R Prestige headphones worth £299.00.

Sylvia Chind, head of devices at Three, said: "We're extremely pleased to offer the Xperia Z for pre-order from the February 1, and coupled with our highly competitive price plans and no surprise out-of-bundle data charges, this premium smartphone brings you the ultimate internet experience all on our Ultrafast network."

All the other major UK networks and phone retailers will also offer the Xperia Z, but they have not yet indicated pricing or availability.

The Xperia Z features a full 1080p HD 'Reality' display measuring 5 inches on the diagonal, and fitted with Sony's Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 for extra brightness and clarity.